EAST MIDLANDS IN BLOOM Newsletter~Spring May 2014 From the Chairman... elcome to our spring newsletter – to update you all on Wwhat is taking place in the 2014 EMiB campaign, who is involved, who the judges are and any other recent information and changes that I can think of! First off, congratulations on taking part! This year we have arrange that. Don’t forget, though, that a school is also a very ten new participants – Barrow upon Humber, Draycott in valuable addition to the main bloom judging, showing as it Bloom, Earl Shilton in Bloom, Habrough in Bloom, Hamilton does good engagement with children. in Bloom, Little Eaton in Bloom , Nottingham Retail Business At the time of writing, we have been enjoying a gorgeous Improvement District, Waltham Parish Council, Wessington spring (though the late, sharp frost has had an effect on my Together and Winterton in Bloom. Returning after a short potatoes and on a number of ornamentals in gardens around!); break are Asfordby Village, Ibstock and Sleaford in Bloom; and let’s hope that this will be followed by another summer like after a significant gap, we also are very pleased to welcome last year, where the judging period coincided with largely back past category winner Buxton. So we have 59 participants pleasant weather and lots of lovely days for you all to show – another record level of engagement in the campaign. off your work to the judges and assessors. In addition, It’s Your Neighbourhood continues to grow; Our National RHS Britain in Bloom entrants will, we entries are still coming in at the time of writing, but a number hope, have a great year; your EMiB judges will give you approaching 150 seems likely for 2014, (134 in 2013). some immediate feedback (though not the result!) after your A very warm welcome to all new ‘Bloomers’ and we hope EMiB judging, which you can use to ‘tweak‘ your route or that you will enjoy your first experience in Bloom, and that presentation and so get the most from your day with the RHS this will be the beginning of a long and happy time with us. judges in late July or August. Our many long-standing entrants – and more recent converts We have added to the judging team with another new – find the Bloom to be a rewarding experience, and many, in designate judge this year, so please make Peter Fields most the course of time, may go on to represent our Region in the welcome if he visits you, with our co-Vice Chairman Sharon national RHS Britain in Bloom campaign. Sutton. Peter brings many years of experience in horticulture On page 2 are listed all the 2014 ‘main bloom’ entrants in to the judging team, having been a Head Gardener at private their categories, together with the expected judging teams, estates in Derbyshire and Norfolk. all of whom are looking forward to visiting your communities Our partners and sponsors are essential to our ability to run between 7th and 18th July. By the time you read this newsletter East Midlands in Bloom, and the Sponsorship sub-committee, you may well have been contacted to agree a suitable judging ably led by Peter Benham, have worked tremendously hard to date. retain supporters to our cause. So, continued thanks to Silver There are far too many IYN groups to list individually here, Sponsors Amberol, and Bronze supporters Moles Seeds, but I have indicated the numbers so far that have registered Western Power Distribution and Taylors Bulbs. Barcham from the main cities and towns/districts in the region. Trees, DART Training, The Art Department and Naylor’s Assessments of these groups and their activities – examples Flower Bulbs who continue to provide invaluable support. of grass-roots community action at its best – will take place throughout the whole of July. At this stage we are still receiving entries for special Jeff Bates, awards and for the Best School Garden. As usual, ‘specials’ are judged during ‘Bloom’ judging – but please ensure that Irene Chairman, has been made aware that you are entering special awards to East Midlands in Bloom allow the judges time to get round your community without need for a rush. Schools are judged separately, and Rupert Atkinson and his team will contact each school individually to All entry forms are downloadable from our website For any queries please contact: Irene Bates, East Midlands in Bloom Secretary, 64 Chaddesden Park Road, Derby DE21 6HD Email: [email protected] Tel: 01332 679598 www.eastmidlandsinbloom.co.uk 1 EMiB entrants 2014 – by category and with expected judging teams Sad news… In the past few weeks EMiB has lost three notable figures Small Village: Barton in Fabis, Elmton, Little Cawthorpe in intrinsically linked with the Campaign. Bloom, Ranby BKV, St Crispin Village, Wessington Together – Many of our established entrants will have met Tim Sharp, judges: Richard Adams & Martin Hardy who was one of our judges for a number of years, and who has very recently died at the age of only 51. Village: Lark Hill Village, Habrough in Bloom, Middleton (-by-Wirksworth) in Bloom – judges: Doug Stacey & Robin In February we lost Frank Constable, AHRHS, OBE, our Allan President (and for more than ten years a Britain in Bloom judge). At a personal level, Frank also was one of the examin- Large Village: Asfordby Village, Barrow upon Humber, Cais- ers when I took my Master of Horticulture at the RHS, and tor in Bloom, Little Eaton in Bloom, (Market) Bosworth in was invariably a source of sound guidance for the over 40 Bloom – judges: Jo Tarrant & Peter Benham years of our acquaintance. Only 13 days earlier, his wife Mary, who had helped us with the administration and judging of Small Town: Alford Town, Bakewell in Bloom, Blidworth the Childrens Painting Competition for many years, had also Parish Council, Bracebridge Heath Parish Plan, Crowland in passed away. Our deepest sympathies go to his family (and Bloom, Darley Dale, Draycott in Bloom, Holbeach in Bloom, on behalf of EMiB, Irene attended the joint funeral), who Ibstock, Long Sutton in Bloom, Messingham Parish, have kindly continued to support the Frank Constable Trophy Uppingham in Bloom, Winterton in Bloom – judges: Jeff for the Best Front Garden in East Midlands in Bloom for 2014. Bates, Jo Hull, Richard Stephen & Ian Beaney Ending on a more cheerful note, we are pleased to welcome Town: Bourne in Bloom, Immingham in Bloom, Southwell in a new Treasurer, Peter Woodward. He has also recruited his Bloom, Syston in Bloom, Waltham Parish Council – judges: wife Merle to manage the trophies (preparation and arrang- Sharon Sutton & Peter Fields ing for their engraving), thus taking on the job from Anne Spate who has carried out that task for many years with her Large Town: Belper, Boston, Buxton in Bloom, Earl Shilton in husband, former Vice Chairman, Geoff Spate. Bloom, Gainsborough in Bloom, Ilkeston, Long Eaton, Louth in Bloom, Market Harborough in Bloom (Volunteers), Melton Taking over coordination of the EMiB RHS Its Your Neigh- (Mowbray) in Bloom, Newark in Bloom, Sleaford in Bloom, bourhood campaign are Lee Beckett and Elaine Atkinson, Spalding in Bloom – judges: Diane Moore & Ian Cooke from North East Lincolnshire. Both have years of experience with IYN in our Region. Small City: Chesterfield, Grimsby, Loughborough in Bloom, Oadby & Wigston – judges: Chris Beal & John Simpson We also welcome a new President of EMiB, Doug Stacey, stepping up from his previous roles as Vice President and City: Mansfield, Northampton – judges: Simon Lucas & Chairman, and a new co-Vice Chairman, Dave Bramwell Richard Stephen (sharing the role with Sharon Sutton). Large City: Nottingham – judges: Simon Lucas & Richard Stephen Jeff Urban Community: Evington in Bloom, Hamilton in Bloom, Blooming Bunting Littleover in Bloom, The Meadows – judges: Richard Adams We already have many wonderful pennant creations & Dave Bramwell from our dedicated Bloom and IYN entrants, but we still Coastal: Cleethorpes, Mablethorpe – judges: Andy Chambers need more, so we have extended the deadline to Friday & Doug Stacey 20th June to give a chance for more entrants, past and present to send in a single pennant to be added to our All entry forms are downloadable from our website New BID Category: Nottingham Business Improvement growing bunting, which will be displayed at our Awards You can still enter the Best School Garden Special Award until District - judges: Andy Chambers & Doug Stacey Presentation on 17th September to celebrate 50 years of the extended date of June 7th. the Britain in Bloom Competition. Please see page 3 for Number of IYN main areas at time of writing:Leicester - 30; further details. Loughborough - 38; Nottingham - 43; Derbyshire - 8; North- amptonshire - 7; Newark - 5; Others - 12. EMIB Diary Dates 2014 Britain in Bloom Key Dates 2014-15 Fri 6th June Closing date for EMiB Best School 7th July Finalists’ portfolios due Garden Special Award, Children’s Art Competition and 28th July-8th August Digital Photography Competition Entries. BIB judging fortnight The themes are: “All Seasons in Bloom” (Children’s Art Competi- 16th October Britain in Bloom Awards tion), and “Nature and Encouraging Wildlife in all Seasons” or (Bristol) “My School Garden” (Children’s Digital Photography 17th October Judges Surgeries (Bristol) competition). Rules and forms to both competitions can be 29th January 2015 Finalists’ Seminar found on our website. Mon 7th – Fri 18th July EMiB Judging Period Notable themes for 2014 Tuesday 1st – Thursday 31st July - • Golden Jubilee Anniversary of first Britain in Bloom EMiB/RHS It’s Your Neighbourhood assessment period campaign • Growing for Gold for Pollinators Wed 17th Sept EMiB Awards Presentation Lark Hill Village, Nr. Clifton, Nottingham, NG11 8GF 2 17.5 cm Blooming Bunting o celebrate the Golden Jubilee of the fi rst Britain in Bloom Competition we invite you to join in the special festivities this year by adding your pennant to our growing “East Midlands in Bloom” bunting.